Device for setting-up collapsible cardboard cartons



May. 18, 1954 J. K. EATON DEVICE FOR SETTING-UP COLLAPSIBLE CARDBOARD CARTONS Filed Nov. 25, 1949 2 Ill/M ill INVENTOR. JOSEPH K EATON HIS ATTORNEY Patented May 18, 1954 DEVICE FOR SETTING-UP COLLAPSIBLE CARDBOARD CARTONS Joseph K. Eaton, Newark, N. Y., assignor to Bloomer Bros. Company, Newark, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application November 25, 1949, Serial No. 129,332

3 Claims. 1

This invention relates to devices for setting up or erecting cardboard cartons of the folding variety adapted to be collapsed into flat condition for transportation and storage, such, for example, as disclosed inUnited States Letters Patents Nos; 2,277,327 (Fig. 8) and 2,333,181 (Figs. 3 and 7). In situations where such cartons are employed in substantial quantities, the setting up or erection thereof, for filling with the contents, becomes, if accomplished manually, a time-consuming and somewhatburdensome operation, and mechanisms are known for automatically unfolding and distending or setting up the cartons for receiving their contents.

In a copending application for Letters Patent, Serial No. 95,488, filed May 26, 1949, Machine for Setting Up Cartons, there is disclosed a mechanism in which the collapsed cartons are moved continuously along a path and erected, at least in large part, by stationary devices arranged to separate, unfold and erect the carton portions during movement thereof along the guldeways, and the present invention provides a device for use in such a machine.

The object of the present invention, therefore, is to provide an improved device for use in such a machine for efficiently engaging between carton portions collapsed into substantial contact with each other and to progressively separate and unfold such portions to erect the carton during the movement thereof along the guideways provided therefor.

To these and other ends the invention resides in certain improvements and combinations of parts, all as Will be hereinafter more fully described, the novel features being pointed out in the claims at the end of the specification.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a portion of a carton erecting machine having applied thereto a device embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof;

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation on the line 3-4! in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation on the line 4-4 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation on the line 55 in Fig. 2, and

Fig. 6 is an exploded perspective view of parts of the device detached.

2 The preferred embodiment of the invention is herein disclosed as adapted for use in the setting up of a carton such as disclosed in the: said patents and in a machine such as disclosed in said copending application. Such a carton is shown in Fig. 3 in flat collapsed condition and in Figs.

4 and 5 as progressively unfolded or distended in the course of setting it up in erected condition ready for filling with its contents. The carton comprises a longitudinal cell-forming partition iii projecting along one side edge and a pair of upper and lower folded portions, II and I2, which form, when erected, the front and rear side walls and the V-shaped bottom wall of the carton. In collapsed condition, these folded portions H and [2 are superposed in engagement with each other, as shown in Fig. 3, and so as to require separation and progressive movement apart from one another, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, in order to accomplish the erection of the carton.

The machine disclosed in said copending application comprises a hopper (not shown) for receiving a stack of the collapsed cartons and means for feeding the cartons longitudinally, one at a time, for cooperation with the devices for erecting each carton during such movement. Such means comprises spaced grooved guideways or rails, l3 and I4, the former for guiding the edge of the longitudinal partition H3 and the latter for guiding the superposed folded portions H and [2. The carton is moved continuously along such guideways by means comprising an endless chain l5 supported in the machine and moved by motor means (not shown). Projecting upwardly at spaced points along the chain are a series of arms [6, the upper ends of which are arranged to engage the ends of the collapsed cartons and push them, one after another, along the guidevvays l3 and M, as indicated in Fig. 3, the foregoing elements being all parts of the machine described and claimed in said oopending application.

The present invention resides in a device positioned beyond the end of the guideway It (Fig. 1) for entering between and initially separating the superposed carton portions H and I? and then progressively distending or moving them apart to set up the carton. Such device comprises, preferably, an upwardly extending bracket ll (Fig. 4) fixed on the frame of the machine and carrying at its upper end a' screw or bolt Ila which passes through central openings in and supports a thin-edged separating element I8 preferably in the form of a plate or disk, as shown, and upper and lower guide members or plates, I9 and 20, located on opposite sides of element I8, for properly guiding and positioning the carton portions for separation thereof by the element I8, as herein more fully described.

The separating plate I8 is preferably of arcuat or circular and substantial disk-shape interrupted by an inwardly extending notch 2i, shown (Fig. 6). The curved or arcuate periphery of the element I8 is beveled to produce a thin, substantially knife-like edge 22 for entry between the contacting portions II and I2 of the carton.

The carton portions are accurately positioned for the separatin action of element I 8 by the guide plates I9 and ZO. These plates are preferably of arcuate or disk-like shape, cut away at 23 and 24, respectively, for a purpose hereafter described. The curved peripheries of these members or plates are each formed with inwardly inclined surfaces, 25 and 26,, respectively, for engaging the outer surfaces of the carton portions I I and I2 and for accurately positioning the plane of engagement between them in line with the knife edge of element I8 as shown in Fig. 2, as the carton is moved along its guideways by the continuously moving arms IS. The element It and members I9 and are clamped stationarily on bracket I 7 by the screw Ila. It is apparent from the above description that the carton portions are precisely positioned by the beveled edges of the members I9 and 20 and engage at their corners, first with the curved sharp edge of element I8 by which they are reliably separated and moved apart by the increasing thickness of the beveled edge of the element, and its increasing penetration into the carton path, so as to be moved from the position shown in Fig. 3 to that shown in Fig. 4.

As the corners of the carton portions, initially separated as described above, pass beyond the point of maximum penetration of the element I8, they engage with the tapered end 21' of a shoe, indicated generally at 28, for continuin the separation of the carton portions. The shoe end 21 is a plate having an edge 2111 which is beveled and inclined further inwardly, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, for progressivelyincreasing the distension of the carton portions as they move along the guide. Shoe end 21 is carried by a bracket 25 fixed on the frame of the machine. Beyond the leading end 21 of the shoe, the carton portions engage the main body of the shoe 28, the edge of which is inclined inwardly as at to progressively penetrate further between the carton folds. As shown in Fig. 1, the guideway I3 is inclined and progressively approaches the shoe, so that the latter is caused to increasingly press inwardly between carton portions II and I2. Shoe 28 has opposite side surfaces, 3I and 32, which are flared outwardly away from each other to progressively increase the separation of the carton portions as shown in Fig. 5.

At the end of shoe 2B the separated carton portions engage with a series of wedge-shaped rollers, one of which is shown at 33 (Figs. 1 and 2), which further increase the separation of the carton portions with a minimum of friction, for com- ,pleting the erection of the carton, as more fully described in said copending application.

It is apparent from the above description that the invention provides a precision device for accurately and reliably engaging between the contacting surfaces of the bottom portions of the carton and initially spreading them apart for proper engagement with the inclined surfaces of shoe 28 and eventually with the Wedge-shaped roller 33, so as to reliably and progressively spread apart the side and bottom wall portions of the carton to erect the same in cooperation with the mechanism disclosed in the said copending application. The invention thus provides a simple and efficient device for insuring alinement between the device and the contacting surfaces of the carton portions and for engagement therebetween and progressive separation thereof, as required for erecting the carton, this function bein accomplished, moreover, by relatively simple, stationary parts requiring only the continuous movement of the cartons along their guideways.

It will thus be seen that the invention accomplishes its objects and while it has been herein disclosed by reference to the details of a preferred embodiment, it is understood that such disclosure is intended in an illustrative, rather than a limiting sense, as it is contemplated that various modifications in the construction and arrangement of the parts will readily occur to those skilled in the art, within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A device for erecting collapsible cardboard cartons having portions thereof collapsed into substantial engagement with each other, said device comprising guideways for the collapsed carton, means for moving the carton along said guideways, a pair of spaced stationary members having inner peripheral surfaces thereof inclined inwardly and toward each other for engaging the outer sides of said carton portions to accurately centerthe same therebetween during said carton movement, an element formed with a thin edge arranged to enter between and initially separate said carton portions while positioned by said members, and means for entering between said separated portions and for progressively increasin the separation thereof, for erecting said carton during movement thereof along said guideways.

2. A device for erecting collapsible cardboard cartons having portions thereof collapsed into substantial engagement with each other, said device comprising guideways for the collapsed carton, means for continuously moving the carton along said guideways, a pair of spaced stationary members having inner peripheral surfaces thereof inclined inwardly and toward each other for engaging the outer sides of said carton portions to accurately center the same therebetween during said carton movement, a stationary plate having a thin edge of curved shape arranged to enter between and initially separate said carton portions while positioned by said members, and

means for entering between said separated portions and for progressively increasing the separation thereof, for erecting said carton durin movement thereof along said guideways.

3. A device for erecting collapsible cardboard cartons having portions thereof collapsed into substantial engagement with each other, said de vice comprising guideways for the collapsed carton, means for moving the carton along said guideways, a pair of spaced members having inner peripheral surfaces thereof inclined inwardly and toward each other for engaging th outer sides of said carton portions to accurately center the same therebetween during said carton movement, a stationary plate having a curved peripheral portion beveled to a thin edge arranged to progressively enter between and initially separate said carton portions while positioned by said members, a stationary shoe having longitudinally flared sides for entering between said separated portions and for progressively increasing the separation thereof, and wedge-shaped roller means arranged to engage between and further increase the separation of said carton portions. for erecting said carton during movement thereof along said guideways.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,495,192 Macnaughtan May 27, 1924 1,727,729 Plass Sept. 10, 1929 1,831,837 Baldenhofer Nov. 17, 1931 1,993,915 Brown Mar. 12, 1935 2,535,201 Wetzler Feb. 12, 1952 

